Railroad-switch stand.



G. A. ALDEN.

RAILROAD SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1911.

1,050,416, Patented Jan.14,1913.

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c. A. ALDEN. RAILROAD SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1911.

1,050, 11 6. Patented Jan. 14,1913.

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I 26 mvzuron Z M v C fiarlcg s 0? J1 den COLUMBIA PLANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA c1 CHARLES A. ALDEN, OF STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14,1913.

Application filed November 22, 1911. Serial No. 661,667.

To all about it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. ALDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Steelton, in the county of Dauphin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailroad-Switch Stands, of which the following a specification.

Railroad switch-stands in general use are provided with devices adaptedto be operated to open and close a switch and, at the same time, set asignal in proper position to indicate the position of the switch; andsuch switch-stands are also provided with means to hold the switch andsignal in either of two set positions with the switch open or closed andthe signal indicating the same.

When a switch has been set in one of its two positions to properlyreceive wheels passing over the track in one direction and the switch isrun through in the opposite direction, a part or parts of the mechanismare broken and the signal is thrown to an uncertain position.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel, simple and efficientmeans whereby, when a switch is run through in the opposite directionfrom which it is set, the signal will be moved to and retained in adefinite, predetermined position, indicating that the switch is in adisabled condition.

\Vit-h this object in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and characterist-ic features of construction hereinafterfully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention: Figure 1, is aplan view of a switch-stand and adjuncts, showing one form of embodimentof my invention. Fig. 2, is a vertical section, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3, is a horizontal section, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1, isahorizontal section, on line an of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a horizontalsection, on line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6, is a vertical section showing amodification of the breakable connections.

Referring to the drawings, '7 designates the end portions of twoadjacent railroad cross ties. Mounted upon these cross ties 7 is theusual two-part frame or casing 8 of a switchstand, the base portion ofwhich is provided with suitable spike holes through which spikes may bedriven to secure the frame 8 to the ties.

The frame 8 has mounted therein a horizontal shaft 9 the outer end ofwhich is provided with the usual weighted operating lever 10. Secured tothe inner end-of the shaft 9 is the usual beveled gear 11 the teeth ofwhich co-act with the usual beveled. toothed sector 12. This sector 12is 211' ranged within the casing 8 and projects from a vertical sleeve13 which is mounted to turn in a bearing 14: formed in the bottom of theframe or casing 8. The parts are constructed so that when the lever 10is moved from side to side of the frame 8 to turn the shaft 9 a halfrevolution, the sleeve 13 will be moved a quarter turn.

The sleeve 13 projects below the bottom of the bearing 14: and the partof the sleeve 13 directly beneath the bearing 14 extends into and issecured to the hub 15 of a switch and signal operating arm or member 16which extends horizontally from the sleeve 13. Directly beneath themember 16 is a horizontally arranged switch operating part or lever 17,the hub 18 of which is mounted to turn loosely about the axis of thesleeve 13 on the lower reduced end thereof, axial movement of the hub 18be ing prevented by a screw 19 screwed into the hub 18 and having itsinner end extending into a circumferential groove 20 in the sleeve 13.

One end of the lever or part 17 is pivoted to the usual switch operatingrod 21, and the other end of the lever 17 is connected to the member 16by a pin 22. The body of the pin 22 extends through the lever 17 and theupper reduced end 23 of the pin 22 is frangibly connected to the bodythereof and extends into a socket formed in the member 16, whereby thepin 22 will normally cause the member 16 and switch-operating part tomove together to open and close the .switch when the lever 10 is movedfrom side to side, and whereby the upper end 23 of the pin may be brokenor sheared from the main body thereof on the line under the forcefulmovement of the switch-operating part 17 when the member 16 is held inone of its two set positions by the weighted lever 10 extendinghorizontally from one side or the other of the shaft 9.

Directly beneath the switch-operating part 17 is ahorizontally-extending signaloperating part or arm 24, the hub 25 ofwhich is secured to the lower end of the signal or target shaft 26 whichextends upwardly through and is rotatably mounted in the sleeve 13 and abearing 2? in the top of the casing S. The shaft is made in two partswhich are secured together by a surrmmding sleeve 28 and transverse pins29 extending therethrough. The sleeve 28 and a surrounding collar 30rests upon the top oi. the sleeve 13 and supports the shatt- 26 and arm2i, the sleeve 13 ha." a shouldered portion 31 resting upon the top ofthe bearing ll to ,s-i upport, the sleeve 1? and the switch-ope 'atingpart. ll is supported upon the hub ot the arm Bl, the s *rew if) beingin'ovided for convenience in assembling the parts.

The pin 22 projects below the bottom of the lever l'i and the projectinglower end of the pin 2:2 tapered or beveled and resta within a taperedor beveled such in the subjacent arm The. body of tie pin in slidabl vtitted to the lever ll" is norniallv held against vertical displacementby the engaganent oi the upper portion of the pin with the member 16thereby causing the signal-operating member ill to move with theswitch-operating lever ti, until the pin opert s to break the connectionbetween the vuchoperating part 17 and the signal-ope 'atinr; part 2% aswill be hereinafter explained.

The signaboperatine part 24- is provided with lateral projections 32,one being located on one ride and the other being located on the otherside oil the lower end of an arm 5:33 which projects rigidly anddownward l v from the member 16. This arm 33 forms an abutment againstvwhich either of the projections 32 are znlapted testrilce to limit themovement of the arm 2i when it. is moved relatively to the member 16about the axis of the aha'l t 26 one-eighth (ll a turn in eitherdirection it'rmn the poaition shown in the drawin The iree end of therrm Qalcarries a pair oli' horizontallv-arranged latch arms 3% themeeting ends of which overlap each other and are pi voted on a verticalpin 33 in the arm Ql. The arms iii are pressed outwardlw to thepositions shown in the drawings by the outer ends at tlat springs 36having their inner enda secured to the arm Ql. "the free ends of thelatch arms 34 extend to positions adjacent the free ends of theprojections 32 and the free ends of the arms til are provided withnotches Ell which are so ar- "anged with relation to the projections 32that when the signal-eperating part or arm 2% is moved relatively to themember l6 oneeighth ot a turn about thw axis oil the shaft 26, one ofthe prtjijections 32 will engage one side of the abutment 33, and theadjacent notch ill will engage the other side of the abutn'ienttherebypreventing; further movement at the arm Qet in either direction andlocking it; to the abutment 33. ll'hen one of the projectioi'is 32 ismoved into enand the pin tioi oli its spring 36 until the shouldertalportion 2-58 of the notch 3T esc; pes the abutment 33 whereupon theshouldered portion 38 15 pressed outwarelv into PUt-Illjiozl to eu gageme side (11 the abutment 33 immediately after the pro ection engaejeathe other side oi the abutment and stops the movement oi the arm 24.

The operation is as follows: llheu tla, parts are in the positions shownin the drawings and the. rod 21 is connected to a switch the switch isheld in one of its two positions opened or closed. by the weighted lever10 resting on one side oil the shalt l the member 16, the lever 17 am.arm 21!: heiur; ceni'iect'ed together by the pin 2?. in this p i sitionof the parts, the wines 3%) oi the signal carried by the shaft Lb extendat right angles to the track or substantially so and indicate theposition of the switch while the winge it) of the signal extend parallelto the track or substantially so. l l hen it is desired to reverse theswitch, or move it to the other of its two positionsthe weighted lever10 is moved to the other side of the shaft 9, thereby moving the memberto, the lever 17. the arm 21:. the shaft; on and signal thereon aquarter turn. about the arfa ot' the shaft 26 and causing the lever l?to shift the switch to its other position in which it is held by theweighted arm 10 resting on. the side of the shaft 9 to which it was:moved. The position to which the switch was moved is now indicated bythe signal. wings 40 which now extend at right angles to the track, oranbstantially sin while the wine's 39 now extend parallel to the traelnor sub stantially so. it will thus be seen that by moving the lever 10from side to side of the Shaft 9 the switch may be opened and closed andthat the signal will be ope 'ated to indicate the position of theswitch. When. the switch is run through in the opposite direction fromwhich itis set and held by the weighted lever 10, the car wheels forcethe switch and its red 21 in a manner to turn the lever 17 while theweighted arm 10 and its connections hold the member 1(3 against movementby the lever 17. This ope 'ation :auses the upper portion 23 of the pinto be broken or sheared from the body of the pin, thereby braiking theconnection between the lever 17 and member to. The tanning of the lever17 under the inlluence of the car wheels brings one of the projectionsand latches into engagement with the abutment: 33 and arrests themovement 0i. signal-ope ailing arm Ql by the lever 1.7, after the top ofthe sheared pin 92 moves from beneath the member 16. During thecontinued movement of the lever 17 th tapered or beveled lower end oithe pin 22,

engaging the beveled wall of the socket in the arm 2 1, is forcedupwardly from engagement with the arm, thus breaking the con nectionbetween the lever 17 and the arm 24. The movement of the arm 24 andthere with the signal is stopped by the projection 32 and latch 3% afterthe signal has been moved one-eighth of a turn to a predeterminedposition, indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. This'predeterminedset position of the signal, intermediate its two posi tions indicatingthat the switch is open or closed, indicates tothose concerned that theswitch has been run through and disabled.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a modification in which the upper end 23 of thepin 22 is omitted, and in lieu thereof a pin 41 is employed whichextends between the part 16 and lever 17 and forms a breakable connec-'t-ion between the same, the pin a1 being adapted to be sheared or brokenwhen the lever 17 is forcibly moved relatively to the part 16 aspreviously described. In this modification there is no connectionbetween the pin 22 and the part 16, and in all other respects the pin 22operates as previously described.

I claim:

1. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operatingpart, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normallycausing them to move together and permitting movement of said partsrelative to each other and normally causing them to move together, andmeans cooperative to hold the signal operating part independently of theswitch operating part, whereby when the last named means holds thesignal operating part, said connecting leans will permit the switchoperating part to move relative to the signal operating part.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operatingpart, a signal operating part, an operating member movable to either oftwo set positions, means for holding said member in one of saidpositions, a breakable connection between said member and said switchoperating part, connecting means for said parts, said connect ing meanspermitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon thebreaking of said connection, and means controlled by said member afterthe breaking of said connection for holding the signal operating partwhen said part reaches a position intermediate said two set positions,whereby when said member is held in oneeof said set positions themovement of the switch operating part will break said connection andthereafter move relative to the signal operating part, leaving thesignal operating part in said intermediate position.

3. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operatingpart, a signal op erating part, connecting means for said parts normallycausing them to move together when moved to either of two set positionssaid connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to eachother, said connecting means comprising a pin extending between andengaged with. said parts and having a beveled end engaging a beveledface of one of said parts, and means operative to engage and hold thesignal operating part when it reaches a position intermediate said twosetpositions, whereby when the last named means holds the signaloperating part in the intermediate position, said pin will permit theswitch operating part to move relative to the signal operating part.

4. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operatingpart, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normallycausing them to move together when moved to either of two set positionssaid connecting means permitting movement of said parts relative to eachother, an abutment provided with means for holding it in a set position,and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signaloperating part when it reaches a position intermediate said two setpositions, whereby when the abutment is in its set positionthe latchdevice will engage the abutment and hold the signal operating part inthe intermediate position and permit the signal operating part to moverelative to the switch operating part. i

5. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operatingpart, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normallycausing them to move together when moved to either of two setposit-ions, said connecting means permitting movement of said partsrelative to each other, said connecting means including a pin extendingbetween and engaged with said parts, an abutmentprovided with means forholding it in a set position, and a latch device arranged to engage saidabutment and hold the signal operating part when it reaches a positionintermediate said two set positions, whereby when the abutment is in itssaid set position the latch device will engage the abutment and hold thesignal operating part when it reaches the intermediate position andpermit the signal operating part to move relative to the switchoperating part.

6. In a switch-stand, the combination of a frame, a switch operatingpart, a signal operating part, connecting means for said parts normallycausing them to move together when moved to either of twov setpositions, said. connecting means permitting movement of said partsrelative to each other, said connecting means comprising a pin extendingbetween and engaged with said parts and having a beveled end enanabutment provided with means for holdit in a set positiom and a latchdevice arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operatingpart when it reaches a position intermediate said two set positions.whereby when the abutment is in its said set position the latch devicewill engage the abutment and hold the signal operating part in theintermediate position and permit the signal. operating part to moverelative to the switch operating part.

7. In a switclrstand, the combination of a frame, a switch operatingpart, a signal operating part, an operating member movable to either oftwo set positions, means for holding said member in one of saidpositions, a breikable connection between said member and said switchoperating part, connecting means For said, parts, said connecting meanspermitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon thebreaking of said connection, an abutment carried by aid member, and alatch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signaloperating part when it reaches a position intermediate said two setpositions, whereby when. said member is held in one of said setpositions. the movement of the switch (met-Ming part will break saidconnection and thereafter engage the latch device with the abutment andpermit relative movement between said parts leaving the signal operatingpart in said intermediate position.

S. in a switch-stand, the combination of a frame. a switch operatingpart a signal operating part. an operating member mo 2 ble to either oftwo set ositions means for holding said member in one of said.positions. a lineakable pin connecting said member and said switchoperating part, connecting means for said parts, said connecting meanspermitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon thebreaking- (it said pin. an abutment carried by said member, and a latchdevice arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signal operatingpart when it reaches a position intermediate when said member is held inone of said said two set positions, wherebyinseam set positions, themovement of the switch operating part will first break said pin andthereatter engage the latch device with the abutment and permit relativemovement between said parts, leaving the signal operating part in saidintermediate position.

9. In a switch-stand, the combination of a tran'ie, a switch operatingpart, a signal operating part, an operating member movable to either oftwo set positions, means for holding said member in one of saidpositions, a breakable pin connecting said memher and said switchoperating part, connecting means for said parts, said connecting meanspermitting movement of said parts relative to each other upon thebreaking of said pin, said connecting means comprising a pin extendingbetween and engaged with said parts and having a beveled end engaging abeveled face of one of said parts, an abutment carried by said member,and a latch device arranged to engage said abutment and hold the signaloperating part when it reaches a position intcrnnzdiate said two setpositions, whereby when said member is held in one of said set positionsthe movement of the switch operating part will first break said pin andthereafter engage the latch device with the abutment and permit relativemovement between said parts, leaving the signal operating part in saidintermediate position.

10. A signal for a switch stand comprising an operating member, a switchoperating part, a breakable connection between the member and theoperating part, a signal operating part, means for connecting saidparts, said means permitting movement of the parts relative to eachother upon the breaking of said connection, and means for limiting therelative movement of the operating member and the signal operating part.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES it. ALDEN. llitnesses:

G. A. Lawonozv, ALLEN Vi, ELLnNnnncnn.

tiepies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Connnissioner of Patents, Washington, G.

